LeBron James is Sending Mixed Messages

Doug Gottlieb: "The Lakers are not close to winning a championship. At all. LeBron has the right to declare and become a free agent. What Lakers fans were looking for last night was a double-down on being all-in on the Lakers. That could sound fake. That could sound premeditated. But it isn't avoidance, it isn't leverage. It's the talk of Kobe Bryant. Does that feel like a good look? No, not really. They're not trading LeBron James. This is just for show. I know he will be back with the Lakers. But the real challenge is if somebody could convince LeBron James to take less money in order to make sure he has better surrounding talent. And the answer to this point is no, that's not the way LeBron has done business."

Doug Gottlieb reacts to the Lakers exiting the playoffs at the hands of Nuggets for the second-straight year. Doug gives his thoughts on LeBron James being vague about his future with the Lakers, explaining why LeBron is aware that the current Lakers roster is not good enough to contend for a title, and that LeBron may be trying to prod the Lakers into doing what they need to give him one more shot at a ring despite knowing that his contract could continue to get in the way.